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Will someone explain Martha Burk's obsession?
I wish someone would give me just 10 minutes with all the protest leaders. I would hope to just shake some sense into them. Where are they living? Not in the same world as most of us.
Margaret Ertz, Evans, Ga.

Students 'impressed' judges of senior projects
We have so many things to be proud of in Columbia County. I had the privilege of serving as a judge at Evans High School for the senior class projects. We had six students who made an eight- to 10-minute presentation. These students had done about three months preparation for their projects. These projects ranged from the history of dance to rebuilding an old car, to scuba diving and theater direction.

Where did Georgia's surplus of funds go?
Regarding your March 22 editorial, "Raise cigarette tax." I noticed you forgot to include the tax proposal on alcohol that our so-called Republican governor also would like to increase. It has become easy to pass on "sin taxes" to allow the government's unrestrained spending to continue.
Dan Rutensky, Augusta

Condition of I-20 bad as golf protest
Having moved from England to the United States some 12 years ago, it has saddened me to hear of the protests being shown toward the Augusta National Golf Club.
Nick Thetford, Charleston, S.C.

Problems at A.R. Johnson High School upsetting
My daughter is an 11th grade student at A.R. Johnson High School. I am just one of many parents who are very upset with the school. I do not know all the details, but we deserve answers.
Mary Cowart, Augusta

Name parkway after a real hero
While I usually steer clear of politicians and politics, I feel I must speak on a subject now in the news - the River Watch Parkway. As a business owner and taxpayer within the city of Augusta, I cannot support changing the road's name to honor a politician - a living one, at that.
M.E. La Pan II, Augusta

Editorial damaging to economy more than flag
The devastation of good men with good intentions is what happens when you are on the wrong end of a one-issue policy - a policy that means far more than money to a large majority of Georgians...
Milton Gresham, Evans, Ga.

Consider redistricting vote carefully
To the voters in Aiken, S.C., please consider your choice carefully on Tuesday, because it will have consequences. The majority of articles I have seen on the subject of redistricting do not tell the whole story. In the opinion of the majority of the city council and our attorney, who has worked on both of the redistricting plans, there is every indication that a 4-2-1 district voting plan would not be approved. This being the case, we are then left with a 5-1-1 or a 6-1 district-voting plan.
Mayor Fred B. Cavanaugh Jr., Aiken, S.C.

Reservists to flesh out medical units
With active-duty medical personnel being pulled from Army medical centers and deployed during the war with Iraq, a group of Army Reservists is being activated to fill their slots in the Southeast region.

Grand opening
Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Ralph Rivera enters the drawing for a gas grill at the open house for the Columbia County News-Times and the Augusta Chronicle's Columbia County Bureau on Wednesday.

New arena: Good idea, tough sell
If the crowd at a recent public forum is any indication, Co-lumbia County officials have to come up with a pretty good sales pitch to convince local citizens to help pay for a new Augusta arena.

Harlem library was a gift to city
The home of Helen and Frank Walton was deeded to the city of Harlem by Montine Walton, widow of William Walton, on Dec. 24, 1974, to be used for a library and city offices. The library was to be named in memory of Helen and her son, William.

Narrow miss of misfortune
Like a tale out of a pulp novel, heres a headline for a story out of my life at the paper: Now it can be told.

'Rain tax' coming due?
Talk of a new arena wasn't the only thing discussed at last weeks community forum. The countys stormwater utility fee also drew comments.

A 'man of sorrows'
In a recent discussion about the crucifixion of Jesus, someone asked, If Jesus had waited to come to earth now instead of 2,000 years ago, do you think He still would have died for all the sins of the world? There are many more people now, and a lot more sins.

Sports briefs
The Augusta Flash 14-and-under fast-pitch softball travel team is conducting tryouts. For more information call Jeff Towe at 868-8485 or 771-5618, or e-mail augustaflash@hotmail.com.